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Drawing Instruments

Flat Cases

While retailers often called this style of case a "pocket case," we have chosen the name "flat case" to avoid confusion with the earlier form of vertical pocket case shown on another page. Flat cases were usually fastened with a sliding pin known as a "bar-lock." They were sold most widely in the 20th century by firms such as Keuffel & Esser.

A clear plastic envelope with two blue snaps and marked DIETZGEN contains a black hard plastic case that fastens with two sliding bars. The top of the case is marked: DIETZGEN (/) STELLAR (/) 1288-3 (/) MADE IN GERMANY. Red and yellow foam inside the lid has come unglued. The instrument tray is lined with red velvet. A brochure demonstrating the features of this set and a yellow cleaning cloth lie on top of the tray. The set includes:

1) 6" chromium-plated fixed-leg needle-point dividers. Black plastic covers the joint and is marked on one side: DIETZGEN. The other side is marked: GERMANY.

The joint tightener is missing. A slot in the case holds a piece of green paper marked: SPACE FOR DIETZGEN DRAFTING PENCIL. According to the brochure, this model number was normally sold without the pencil. These instruments were part of the Stellar product line.

The donor, Ed Severino, began his career in the 1940s as an engineer with General Electric Company in Schenectady, N.Y. After eight years, he went to teach mathematics and science at Mont [sic] Pleasant High School in Schenectady, where he became head of the Technical Department. According to the donor, this set of drawing instruments is of the type trainees used in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when Severino was director of his high school's General Electric Apprentice Training Educational Program.